Microscope attachment and the like



Aug. 21, 1951 T. e. AITCHESON MICROSCOPE ATTACHMENT AND THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1948 INYENTOR. Thomas G. fl/"l'chesoq sy te o c i m ns rums v .n rt qiila l i ei n has ..ni rqsqqn obu po ld .str m an th g ks- ,I th O t rher N ca Pa N 2 42 8 a ph s contras .mi ms on ly transparent materials p to oa b cteri hqd ti ansm ssio .an a sorpti n ,q r ieteristi t s plate o fil s gna hell -gate i 2 Patented Aug. 21 1951 UNITED STAT :ICE

2,565,419 MICBQSQQR T-TE MEN DYIEH sl- 2 Thomas G Aitpheson, Kenmore,- N. -=Y., assignor to {American Optical Company, .-S0uthbridge, Mass.,..a voluntary associationofi Massachusetts i ln ieat e amne fiste bl 3.133

a b u wa van ae eusl i 911,1515; gli in- Tll us 9 s l e. exam n t gn o subst ntia and objects, s h as an rumentio na i th i iko ha @9 ab ce .ite dfi the d e QLIIIIFIIQSQQPY- I w l be. l ei-th thi ,pat ntdfi ri e jh lfiq varies t ne co phas plate .p flsi scshav n j s em and ca e b indiv u nt rchan e? lohiec .rs

t t i strume t I tunet pn wit i ch a has lat n-.al iase imcr sgob her ll fhfi vided ca a er ur i be ma ed; ..;.th de s ens ystem.=. .ithein trumen an in Pr determined spacedand aligned relation ,tolit he phas at i thepbieqt eh. purnszs 9 su an rranssa eeti s c ea iq t li sai 30: patent.

:ma des abl tq eseae e s vera cl "i hi q ir h di erentr w ir r sash equi ped with a phase plate the'rein or it might' be e es bl t interch n e obiec i e like owe but vin di fe nt types 9 nnat -slam nol1e ed therein. ln either ca se it willgelfl f l hb desirable to interghange the aperture member in advantage therewith. On the other" it might be desirable to interchange aperture members merely for providingglow, medium or hjgh contrast. However, regardless of the reasons -for the changing of phase plates, orobjective 45 and phase'plate combined, or aperture member,

--it has been found highly essential "that proper exact predetermined spacing and -align-meiit of each aperture member with the phase plate with which it is to be used beefieetedfor best func- 50 com a and stur x-pqns rul tiq l whic rmarfi it .xea i fit e si th imite l.s r ,..,ata'i ahlem ,iepecl microscope ggondens erland turret assembly em- :2 beneath the stage of a' conventional microscope (Mus ims Whensameis-fitted with a phase objective. The assemblycpmprises a housingsupa condnserlens' system and a light con- 5 trp me ns and enclosing "a rotatable turret membierjcarryingla plurality of aperture cells'in such a rnanner s to enable easysand accurate po's'itioning ofindividual aperture-members in opera- --t1 ejiosition inf'the instrument. The assembly alsopiovided with adjustablemeans foraccuratelj}--locating thelcondenser and turret assemblYinoptical alignment with the optical axis iof tl'ie microscope'and the individual cells" are provided with readilyadjustable means for allow- 5 ing exact/centering of each cell relative to the p'articular'phase plate with which it is to be used. Furthermore, the assembly is arranged in fs uch a manner'as'to substantially completelylenclose the cells -s'o that dust and -the like will not 20 enter thehousing and-interfere with the proper operations'of the phase microscope. -Said;asgammy is also arrangedtd'allow convenient re- 'msva ofany of the aperture cells therein and the easy replacement of others therefor.

Othr objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfromthedetailed description which follows when taken in conjunction with the accompanyin g' drawing in which: n l-Fig. -'1- is a top plan'view of the condenserland turret assembly 'but with the condenser lens. sys- -tem andaperture cell removed therefrom, parts f-thestructure beingbroken away to more clearreveal details of "construction;

Fig.1 is an elevational-view of the assembly, partly in section taken along lines 22 of Fig. 1; R Ff ig 3- is ab'ottom'plan view, partly in section,

oft e condenser and turret assembly; and rand-'5 are sectional Views of different p apes of removable "aperture cell which maybe the condenser assembly so as to function to best mployed'in 'thjcondenserand turret assembly.

LP t RP N bgdying the pre invention; ring is provided h arr er rinul'ar slopinglsuriface IB m the, bight pojrtion of the forked arm mat theupper edgeof this surface is proan...annular flange I8 which'fis arranged to w A 'persurfaee ofsaid arm. Sur- 6 gfr1d fia nge -;4 B locatethe ring member asaii,

I4 in the recess of the forked arm [6 and pins I2 securely but removably retain this ring in place.

Supporting ring member l4 has a downwardly extending enlarged annular flanged portion 20 to which is secured an apertured cover plate 22 which together form an annular recess 24 in which is slidably positioned and confined a diaphragm supporting member 25. Member 25 has an upwardly extending portion 26 provided with an internal annular lip 21. Upon the portion 26 is positioned a lower integral annular portion 28 of a turret housing 29 and a clamping ring 30 is threaded into this lower portion 28 in such a manner that a flanged edge thereof engages.

the lip 21 and clamps member 25 securely to the housing member 29. A cover 32 is provided for the housing 29 and is bolted or otherwise secured thereto in such a manner that this cover and housing together form an annular recess 34 in which a rotatable turret or carrier 36 is arranged to operate.

The turret housing 29 is provided with an upstanding central lug or boss 38 which provides a bearing surface for the rotatable carrier 36. The turret housing member 29 is made of such thickness or heightthat the rotatable carrier and parts carried thereby will be accommodated within the recess 34 and may be rotated about boss 38. Formed in the carrier or turret 36 are a plurality of openings 4!! equally spaced from each other and equally spaced from the bearing for the boss 38 so that any one of these several openings may be rotated into substantial alignment with a condenser lens system 42 which may be removably screw-threaded into an opening 44 formed in the cover member 32 directly about the annular opening in clamping ring 36.

In the particular carrier 36 shown in the drawing, five openings are shown. Obviously a different number could be employed. In all; but one of these openings are positioned centerable supporting rings 46 and each ring 46 is provided with internal (threads 48 for removably receiving an aperture cell 49 such as shown in Fig. 2, or as shown somewhat enlarged in Figs. 4 and 5. A plateelike retainer 50 is bolted or otherwise secured to the lower side of the carrier 36 and is apertured in the same manner as the carrier 36 but these apertures or openings are of somewhat smaller size so that this retainer will engage the centerable rings 46 and retain same within their respective openings 40. The thickness of each ring 46 is such as to fit snugly between retainer 56 and an annular flange 52 formed on the carrier 36 at each aperture 40. A star-shaped recess 54 is formed in the carrier 36 about the central bearing opening therein and the radial arms of this recess are arranged to communicate with the apertures 40. Thus a ring-shaped spring member 56 having radial spring arms 51 may be positioned in the recess and arranged to bear against the individual rings 46 for urging each in an outward direction. The aperture 40 which is to be left unoccupied (for reasons to be later described) need not be provided with a ring 46 or a flange 52 and accordingly only a short arm is shown at 58.

In the carrier 36 adjacent each occupied aperture 46 is arranged a pair of centering screws 58 positioned at approximately 120 apart and in opposition to a spring arm 51, as indicated in Fig. 1. These screws have inwardly projecting ends arranged to engage the ring 46 so that adjustment of these centering screws 58 may a transparent window 10 and this window is 4 effect a centering of an aperture cell 49 when positioned in a rin 46. In the turret housing 29 in alignment with these screws 58, when a cell 49 in a ring 46 is in operative position in substantial alignment with the condenser lens assembly 42, are located a pair of hollow guide members 66. The openings in guide members 68 are only of suiiicient size to allow a relatively small tool to be inserted therein for engagement with the screws 58 so that by proper rotation of either or both of these screws the ring 46 and, accordingly, the cell 49 carried thereby may be moved laterally as desired relative to the optical axis of the condenser lens assembly. The

purpose of such adjustment will be later described. At least one of these screws 58 is arranged to enter a small recess 58' in the ring 46 and. thereby prevent rotation of the ring when a cell 49 is being screwed into or removed from the ring.

Indexing means in the form of a spring arm 62 secured to the inner wall of the turret housing 28 and carrying a small roller 64 in the bifurcated outer ends thereof is arranged to engage any one of a plurality of equally spaced peripheral V-shaped notches 66. These notches are 50 located that when engaged by the roller 'a corresponding aperture 40 in the turret or carrier will be properly located and retained in substantial alignment with the condenser lens assembly 42. When the carrier is rotated the roller 64 will be forced outwardly by the notch 66 and will .roll along the peripheral surface 68 upon the carrier until the next notch is reached. Engagement of the roller 64 with any one of said notches 66 for the occupied aperture 40 will align a corresponding, pair of adjustment screws 58 with the pair of hollow guide members 60.

The condenser lens system assembly 42 serves to prevent, duringvnormal use of the assembly, the entrance of dust or the like into the interior of the housing 28 which might interfere with the optical performance of the instrument. To prevent dust entering from the lower side of the assembly, the clamping ring 36 is provided with retained in place in a recess therein by a conventional threaded ring 12. Since the peripheral knurled portion of the carrier 36 must extend outwardly of the housing sufiiciently to be engaged and operated by afinger of the operator of the instrument, the portion of the housing 29 opposite the apertured annular portion 28 is foreshortened somewhat so that the carrier may extend outwardly thereof. This foreshortened portion is provided with an inwardl (upwardly) extending annular rib 14 which is closely received in a small annular groove or recess in the carrier 36. The cover member 32 is likewise foreshortened opposite the opening for the condenser lens system and is provided with an inwardly (downwardly) projecting nearly com- .pletely annular rib 16 arranged to fit closely into an upper annular groove or recess in carrier 36. These ribs and annular recesses together serve to form a substantially dust-proof sealing means for this part of the assembly.

In Figs. 4 and 5 are shown two examples of aperture cells 49 which may be screw-threaded into any one of the rings 46in the carrier 36 when the condenser lens system 42 has been temporarily removed from the housing. While a great many different aperture cells may be 7 needed for carrying out the technique of phase microscopy, each such cell will comprise an outer threaded mount -18 in which may be positioned an aperture plate 80.- This plate may be $8- tained in place, when space permits, bya threaded ring 82 or when the plate is of appreciable thickness as in Fig. '5 it may be held therein by means of an integral spun flange. These aperture-cells, in the preferred construction, are provided with difierent sizes of circular openings "86 for the passageoi' light therethrough. A circularopaque coating is carried upon the aperture plate concentric with theopening 86, such as is indicated at 88 in Fig. 4. Thus the opening 86 and coating 88 together determine the inner and outer limits of an annular light opening formed thereby. This light opening must be accurately located laterally with respect to the opticalaxis of the microscope andinto exact predetermined relation with the particular coated phase plate with which it is to be used, such phase plate being generally positioned in or adjacent the microscope objective. Or at times the phase coating is placed directly upon 'a lens surface of the objective.

With reference to Fig. it will be noted that the aperture 8.8 is of considerable size and that the opaque coating 88 is also greatly increased. Also instead of being located upon the upper surface of the aperture plate '88, as in Fig. 4, it is located upon the lower surface thereof and at a considerable distance from the plane of aperture 8%. The purpose for this is to allow the different aperture plates to be properly arranged with reference to the characteristics .of the particular objective and condenser lens com bination with which it is to be employed. For example, in the latter case it would be used with an objective of high power and since the curvature of field thereof would be exceedingly steep, the .outer limits of the light path would be best defined by an edge relatively near the condenser while the inner limits of the light aperture would be best defined when the outer edge of the coating 88 is upon the lower surface of the aperture plate.

As previously stated the supporting member 25- is retained within a recess 2 This recess is of sufiicient size to allow the member '25 and accordingly. the entire turret housing and condenser lens system thereon to be adjusted laterally relative to the optical axis of the microscope objective. This adjustment would be the initial adjustment for the assembly after it had been secured in arm H]. To effect such lateral adjustment of the housing and condenser system spaced hand screws .90 are provided in the .fian'ge 2E) and engage the outer surface of the supporting member 25. A-spring pressed plunger 94 slidably carried in a housing 95 is provided upon the outer surface of the flange 2!] and serves to urge the member 25 toward the screws '96 at all times. A conventional iris diaphragm 97 is located in an annular recess in the member "25 and is moved bodily therewith during centering of the turret housing and condenser lens system. A control arm 98 extends outwardly through a substantially 90 degree slot-99 in the member 20 for controlling the intensity of light reaching aperture cells 49. After theinitial adjustment by screws to has been effected adjustments of the individual cells 49 in their rings 46 :may be made tc-bring the light aperture of the individual cell into exact coincidence with the particular phase plate or'coating with which the aperture plate is to be used; The unoccupied opening ace -m 1-0 *enables the microscope to be used in .a con *ventional manner without ipha'se diaphragms.

While the invention [has been described :in dein relation to a phase microscope, itshould be noted that an equivalent c'onstructio'n might "be utilized other pp'tical and ophthalmic instruments, for-example ophthalmological instruments and the like.

I "claim:

1. -A-device-ofthecharacter-described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operatively positioned in fixed relation to a part of a phase microscope located beneath the stage thereof, a hollow housing carried by said supporting member andsubstantially completely en- -closed 'atits upper side except for alight-opening therein, a'condenser lens system carried bysaid housing and closing said opening, manually adjustable means carried by said supportin mem- 'ber andengagin'g said "housing for "adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative-to said supporting member for aligning "said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective of said microscope, a rotatable carriersupported by and within said housing and havin a plurality of apertures formed therein, means extending outwardly through said housing for manually rotating said carrier to bring'any-one of said apertures into substantial alignment with said light opening, means engageable with said carrier for centering and releasably retainingeach of said-apertures respectively in said substantial alignment with said light opening, an'optical element having adjacent sharply defined areas of difierent optical properties carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures in a manner soas to intercept light "passing therethrough when the aperture is positioned in substantial alignment withsaid light openingand manually operable means carried by said carrier for adjusting said optical element laterally 'in'any desired direction relative to'the optical axis of said condenser lens system and 'into'an exact predetermined position relative to a sharply defined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to said objective, last named means bein aligned with small holes in said housing so as to be accessible 'fr'omthe'exterior of said housing when the aperture is positioned in said substantial alignment with said light opening.

'2. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operatively positioned in fixed relation to a part of a phase microscope located beneath the stage thereof, a hollow housing carried by said supporting member and substantially completely enclosed at its upper side except for a light opening therein, a condenser lens system carried by said housing and closing said opening, manually adjustable means carried by said supporting memberand engaging said housing for adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative to said supporting member for alignin said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective or" said microscope, a rotatable carrier supported by and Within said housing and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, means extending 'ou'twardlythrough said housing for manually rotating'said carrier to bring any one of said apertures into substantial alignment 'with said light opening, means engageable'with said carrier for cen- "tflngan'dreleasably retaining each of said aper- -tl11es respectively -'in said substantial alignment with said light opening, an optical element having adjacent sharply defined areas of different optical properties carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures in a manner so as to intercept light passing therethrough when the aperture is positioned in substantial alignment with said light opening, and manually operable means carried by said carrier for adjusting said optical element laterally in any desired direction relative to the optical axis of said condenser lens system and into an exact predetermined position relative to a sharply defined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to the objective thereof, said last named means being aligned with small holes in said housing so 'as to be accessible from the exterior of the housing when the aperture is positioned in said substantial alignment with said light opening, said condenser lens system being readily removable from said housing and said light opening being of sufficient size to allow passage of said optical element therethrough.

3. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operatively positioned in fixed relation to a part of a phase microscope located beneath the stage thereof, a hollow housing carried by said supporting m ber and substantially completely enclosed at its upper side except for a light opening therein, a condenser lens system carried by said housing and closing said opening, manually adjustable means carried by said supporting member and engaging said housing for adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative to said supporting member for aligning said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective of said microscope, a rotatable carrier supported by and within said housing and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, means extending outwardly through said housing for manuallyrotating said carrier to bring any one of said apertures into substantial alignment with said light opening, means engageable with said carrier for centering and releasably retaining each of said apertures respectively in said substantial alignment with said light opening, an optical element having adjacent sharply defined areas of different optical properties carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures in a manner so as to intercept light passing therethrough when the aperture is positioned in substantial alignment with said light opening, manually operable means carried by said carrier for adjusting said optical element laterally in any desired direction relative to the optical axis of said condenser lens system and into an exact predetermined position relative to a sharply defined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to said objective, said last named means being aligned with small holes in said housing so as to be accessible from the exterior of said housing when the aperture is positioned in said substantial alignment with said light opening, a second light opening in a lower wall of said housing beneath the first mentioned light opening, and a transparent win-' dow arranged to close said second light opening.

4. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operatively positioned in fixed relation to a part of a phase microscope located beneath the stage thereof, a hollow housing carried by said supporting member and substantially completely enclosed at its upper side except for a light opening therein, a condenser lens system carried by v saidhousing and closing said opening, manually adjustable means carried by said supporting member and engaging said housing for adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative to said supporting member for aligning said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective of said microscope, a rotatable carrier supported by and within said housing and having a plurality of apertures formed therein, means extending outwardly through said housing for manually rotating said carrier to bring any one of said apertures into substantial aligmnent with said light opening, mean engageable with said carrier for centering and releasably retaining each of said apertures respectively in said substantial alignment with said light opening, an optical element having adjacent sharply defined areas of difierent optical properties carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures in a manner so as to intercept light passing therethrough when the aperture is positioned in substantial alignment with said light opening, manually operable means carried by said carrier for adjusting said optical element laterally in any desired direction relative to the optical axis of said condenser lens system and into an exact predetermined position relative to a sharply defined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to the objective thereof, said last named means being aligned with small holes in said housing so as to be accessible from the exterior of the housing when the aperture is positioned in said substantial alignment with said light opening, said condenser lens system being readily removable from said housing and said light opening being of sufficient size to allow passage of said optical element therethrough, a second light opening in a. lower wall of said housing beneath the first mentioned light opening, and a transparent window arranged to close said second light opening. I 5. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operatively positioned beneath the stage of a microscope and in fixed relation to a part of said microscope, a hollow housing supported by said member, a condenser lens system carried by an upper wall of said housing and closing a light opening therein, means for adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative to said supporting member for aligning said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective of said microscope, a rotatable carrier supported b and entirely within said housing except for a manually engageable peripheral portion extending outwardly through a slot in said housing, a plurality of apertures formed in said carrier, means engageable with said carrier for releasably retaining any one of said apertures in a predetermined position in substantial alignment with said condenser lens system, an optical element carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures, means for adjusting said optical element, when in said predetermined position adjacent said light opening, laterally in any desired direction relative to the optical axis of said objective and into an exact predetermined position relative to a predefined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to said objective, and closely fitting flanged and grooved means on said housing and carrier adjacent said slot for preventing dust from entering said housing through said slot. 6. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operaatively positioned beneath the stage of a microscope and in fixed relation to a part of said microscope, a hollow housing supported by said member, a condenser lens system carried by an upper wall of said housing and closing a light opening therein. means for adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative to said supporting member for aligning said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective of said micro scope, a rotatable carrier supported .by and entirely within said housing except for a manually engageable peripheral portion extending out- Wardl through a slot in said housing, a plurality of apertures formed in said carrier, means engageable with said carrier for releasably retaining any one of said apertures in a predetermined position in substantial alignment with said condenser lens system, an optical element carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures, means for adjusting said optical element, when in said predetermined position adjacent said light opening, laterally in any desired direction relative to the optical axis of said objective and into an exact predetermined position relative to a predefined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to said objective, closely fitting fianged and grooved means on said housing and carrier adjacent said slot for preventing dust from entering said housing through said slot, a second opening in the lower Wall of said housing beneath said light opening, and a transparent window arranged to close said second opening.

'7. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member adapted to be operatively positioned beneath the stage of a microscope and in fixed relation to a part of said microscope, a hollow housing supported by said member, a condenser lens system carried by an upper wall of said housingand closing a light opening therein, means for adjusting said housing and condenser lens system laterally in any desired direction relative to said supporting memher for aligning said condenser lens system with the optical axis of the objective of said microscope, a rotatable carrier supported by and entirely Within said housing except for a manually engageable peripheral portion extending outwardly through a slot in said housing, a plurality of apertures formed in said carrier, means engageable with said carrier for releasably retaining any one of said apertures in a predetermined position in substantial aligmnent with said condenser lens system, an optical element carried by said carrier adjacent one of said apertures, means for adjusting said optical element, when in said predetermined position adjacent said light opening, laterally in any desired direction relative to the optical axis of said objective and into an exact predetermined position relative to a predefined area positioned in said microscope in operative relation to said objective, closely fittin flanged and grooved means on said housing and carrier adjacent said slot for preventing dust from entering said housing through said slot, a second opening in the lower Wall of said housing beneath said light opening, and a transparent window arranged to close said last mentioned opening, said condenser lens system being readily removable from said housing and said light opening being of sufiicient size to allow said optical element to be moved therethrough.

THOMAS G, AITCHESON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 328,277 Bausch Oct. 13, 1885 1,234,795 Ott July 31, 1917 1,505,418 Ott Aug. 19, 1924 2,404,888 Richards July 30, 1946 2,427,689 Osterberget a1, Sept. 23, 1947 

